Ultraviolet sanitizer with individually-controlled UV emission interface cells

ABSTRACT

A UV sanitizing device including a sanitizing interface having a top surface arranged to support a device positioned above the sanitizing interface where the sanitizing interface includes a translucent material arranged to allow UV light to pass through An adjustable UV emission interface, positioned adjacent to the sanitizing interface, arranged to adjustably conform to the shape of a device facing the sanitizing interface, and arranged to emit the UV light toward the sanitizing interface in the shape of the device. The adjustable UV emission interface includes UV emission interface cells such that, when a first portion of the UV emission interface cells is activated and a second portion of the UV emission interface cells is deactivated, the UV emission interface conforms to the shape of the device. Each cell of UV emission interface cells includes a sensor arranged to detect a portion of the device facing the sanitizing interface.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 17/492,890, filed on Oct. 4, 2021, which issued as U.S. Pat.No. 11,468,560, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 17/074,015, filed on Oct. 19, 2020, which issued asU.S. Pat. No. 11,246,470. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/492,890claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 63/138,029, filed on Jan. 15, 2021, entitled “InfiniteUltraviolet Shielding Devices, Systems, and Methods.” The entirecontents of the above-referenced patent applications are incorporatedherein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application relates generally to device sanitization techniquesand, more particularly, to ultraviolet sanitizing techniques.

BACKGROUND

Biocontamination, including the spread of bacteria and viruses, hastraditionally been a threat to humans and animals. Bacteria, viruses,and other microorganisms that can cause serious illness or infectiousdiseases are typically spread by persons walking into contaminated areasand then transporting the contaminants to other areas via the soles oftheir footwear. Such contaminants are then typically deposited from thesoles of a person's footwear to previously uncontaminated floor surfacesfrom which these contaminants further spread to the soles of otherpersons walking on the floor surfaces. This cycle can continue untilcontaminants are spread throughout a building or buildings as persons'with contaminated soles move from place to place.

Eventually some persons will touch the soles of their shoes or floorsurfaces, or contaminants can become airborne, resulting in dangerousexposures to anyone within contaminated areas. Hospitals, otherhealthcare facilities, or facilities having a high density of people areespecially vulnerable to contaminants due to a significantly increasedpossibility that persons will be exposed to harmful bacteria, viruses,and other microorganisms. Biocontaminants have spread from the soles ofcontaminated shoes to various types of floor surfaces including cementfloors, wood floors, and carpeted floors, which are often subsequentlypicked up directly by persons in contact with such floor surfaces orindirectly via their footwear soles.

Shoe sole cleaning, such as in residential environments, is largelylimited to manual debris removal via outdoor and indoor floor mats,which are typically located in close proximity to main entryways. Thesedevices provide varying levels of debris removal from shoe soles. Due totheir inherent design, they are incapable of removing or eliminatingdisease-causing microscopic organisms and bio-contaminants such asbacteria, viruses, and other harmful germs and spores from the shoesole.

There are existing systems that provide for the reduction of pathogensfrom the soles of shoes. However, these systems do not adequatelyprevent re-contamination of footwear soles after the decontaminationprocess. Also, current systems provide minimal to no ultraviolet (UV)light shielding to users during the decontamination process. Hence,there is a need to more effectively and safely reduce or eliminate thelikelihood of spreading bio-contaminants via the footwear soles ofpersons moving from place to place, while protecting individual usersfrom potentially harmful UV rays. Aside from footwear, other devices areoften exposed to contamination such as articles of clothing, handheld oruser operated equipment, mobile devices, wearable items (e.g., jewelry),and vehicles. Unfortunately, existing systems that providedecontamination of the other types of devices either provide inadequateUV protection to users or are cumbersome to use.

Furthermore, UV-C light, at several peak wavelengths between 200 nm and280 nm, has been proven to be highly effective and efficient in thesanitization of pathogens when properly exposed to surfaces and fluidsin residential, commercial, and industrial applications. Unfortunately,direct exposure of UV-C light in these wavelengths can be extremelyharmful to human skin and eyes.

Conventional UV-C sanitizing applications are typically executed whilehumans are isolated from the harmful UV-C rays or when they are notpresent. However, studies have shown that humans and human devices aretransporters of pathogens into and within facilities. Therefore, formany establishments, the inability to sanitize owners, patrons, vendors,and workers, or their personal belongings or devices, is undesirable.

Hence, there exists a need to provide enhanced pathogen sanitizingfunctions for devices, which utilize UV-C light, whereby human presenceshould not be a concern. This would effectively reduce thetransportation of pathogens into and throughout residential, commercial,and industrial facilities, and therefore improve the overall health andsafety in these establishments.

SUMMARY

The application, in various implementations, addresses deficienciesassociated with cleaning and sanitizing devices used by humans.

This application describes exemplary systems, methods, and devices thateffectively remove and collect debris from various types of devicesincluding, but not limited to footwear soles, and also effectivelysanitize any side of a device or bottom of footwear (also referred toherein as a “sole” or “soles”). A device may include, withoutlimitation, an article of clothing, handheld equipment, user-operatedequipment, a mobile device, computer, electronic consumer device,firearms, wearable items (e.g., jewelry), a tent, a protective suit, avehicle, an autonomous vehicle, an autonomous ariel vehicle (AAV), andso on. Footwear may include, without limitation, shoes, sneakers,sandals, slippers, boots, and any type of foot apparel worn by users toprotect their feet. The exemplary cleaning and sanitizing techniquesdescribed herein create a cleaner and healthier environment in dailyliving, recreational, and/or working areas. The exemplary systems,methods, and devices also incorporate techniques for screening a userfrom any UV light that goes beyond or escapes past the user's deviceincluding, without limitation, deploying a UV shield and/or controllingUV light emissions such that UV light is only emitted when a user'sdevice is determined to be in a designated position.

In some implementations, the inventive systems, methods and devicesherein provide a fully integrated debris removal stage with a pathogenand/or contaminant sanitization stage. Such a two-stage process and/orsequence is advantageous because debris collected on a portion of adevice, e.g., footwear soles or mobile phone body, that may compromiseor inhibit effective sanitization of the device is removed before thesanitization stage to eliminate any physical or line-of-sight barrierbetween a UV emitter and contaminants and/or pathogens on a device,e.g., a footwear sole.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and independenthospital reports claim that pathogens are commonly transported bydevices, such as footwear, from one area to another. In variousimplementations, the systems, methods, and devices described hereinpromote a forward directional or one-way travel path having an entranceand an exit for the user to move through the footwear sole cleaning andsanitization process. This advantageously eliminates the possibilitythat users will re-contaminate their footwear soles by back-trackingtheir steps directly into the path of all previous users.

In certain implementations, the present disclosure includes a “digital”shield system that protects users in close proximity to equipment thatutilizes UV-C light during sanitizing applications. Such devices,systems, and/or methods accurately generate a 2-dimensional screen shapeor shapes that precisely matches the outline of a sensed object that isin close proximity. The screen safely blocks the user from the UV-Clight that is outside of the assumed shape or shapes while also allowingproper exposure of UV-C light to the assumed shape or shapes. In certainconfigurations, the screen can assume any one of a plurality of shapes,i.e., assume an infinite 2-dimensional shape form capability within adefined space.

In further implementations, the present disclosure includes a UVsanitizes device and/or system having multiple individually-controlledand/or independently-controlled and/or autonomous UV emission interfacecells capable of individually detecting the presence of a device alignedwith each cell and, in response, activating one or more UV lightemitters included in an individual cell. Each independently-controlledcell may employs at least one resistor, transistor, phototransistor, andLED emitter (capable of transmitting light within the Germicidal UVCfrequency band, or wavelengths between 200 to 280 nanometers). Thephototransistor may control the actuation of at least one UVC LEDemitter. The resistors and transistors may provide biasing and/orstabilize the sensitivity of the phototransistor. The cells may bearranged in an array such that each cell that is not on the perimeter ofthe array is in contact with (adjacent to) four other cells or in thecenter of eight cells. Perimeter cells will have a least one less celladjacent to it. Each cell size may be less than or equal to about 1/64″×1/64″, 1/32″× 1/32″ 1/16″× 1/16″, ⅛″×118″, ¼″×¼″, ½″×½″, 1″×1″, 5″×5″,10″×10″, 1′×1′, 5′×5′, and 10′×10′.

In one aspect, a UV sanitizing device includes a sanitizing interfacehaving a top surface arranged to support a device positioned above thesanitizing interface where the sanitizing interface includes atranslucent material arranged to allow UV light to pass through. The UVsanitizing device also includes an adjustable UV emission interface,positioned adjacent to the sanitizing interface, that is arranged toadjustably conform to the shape of a surface of the device facing thesanitizing interface, and arranged to emit the UV light toward thesanitizing interface in the shape of the surface of the device. Theadjustable UV emission interface includes a plurality of UV emissioninterface cells such that, when a first portion of the UV emissioninterface cells is activated and a second portion of the UV emissioninterface cells is deactivated, the UV emission interface conforms tothe shape of the surface of the device. Each cell of the plurality of UVemission interface cells includes a sensor arranged to detect a portionof the surface of the device facing the sanitizing interface.

Each cell of the plurality of UV emission interface cells may include atleast one UV light emitter arranged to emit a portion of the UV lighttoward the device and through the sanitizing interface when activated.Each cell of the plurality of UV emission interface cells may beindividually controllable by an activator circuit. The activator circuitmay activate the at least one UV light emitter in response to itsrespective sensor determining that the portion of the surface of thedevice facing the sanitizing interface is aligned with its respectivesensor along an axis extending from the respective UV emission interfacecell toward the portion of the surface of the device facing thesanitizing interface.

The sensor may include a photo-reactive device. The photo-reactivedevice may include a phototransistor. The phototransistor may determinethat the portion of the surface of the device facing the sanitizinginterface is aligned with the phototransistor by detecting a change inlight intensity received by the phototransistor. The sensor may includeat least one of a photo-reactive device, an acoustic sensor, a sonicsensor, a capacitance sensor, a pressure sensor, a mass sensor, and amagnetic sensor.

The plurality of UV emission interface cells may be configured as anarray of UV light emitters arranged to selectively activate the firstportion of the UV emission interface cells and deactivate the secondportion of the UV emission interface cells to emit the UV light towardthe surface of device. The at least one UV light emitter in each of theplurality of the UV emission interface cells may include an LED emitter.The UV sanitizing device may include a proximity sensor arranged todetect the presence of the device when positioned above the sanitizinginterface.

In another aspect, a UV emission interface cell includes a sensorarranged to detect an object along an axis extending from the sensor.The cell also includes at least one UV light emitter arranged to emit UVlight toward the object. The cell further includes an activator circuitarranged to activate the at least one UV light emitter in response tothe sensor detecting that the object is aligned along the axis extendingfrom the sensor.

The activator circuit may be further arranged to deactivate the at leastone UV light emitter in response to the sensor determining that theobject is not aligned along the axis extending from the sensor. Thephototransistor may be arranged to determine when the object is alignedwith the phototransistor by detecting a change in light intensityreceived by the phototransistor. The phototransistor may be arranged todetermine when the light intensity decreases below a level indicatingthat the object is aligned along the axis extending from thephototransistor. The detected object may be a portion of a device. Theplanar size of the cell may be less than or equal to 0.015624 in².

The activator circuit may include an activator capacitor electricallycoupled in parallel with the at least one UV light emitter and arrangedto discharge an electrical current to the at least one UV light emitterwhile the at least one UV light emitter is activated.

In a further aspect, a method for manufacturing a UV emission interfacecell includes: providing a sensor arranged to detect an object along anaxis extending from the sensor; providing at least one UV light emitterarranged to emit UV light toward the object; and electronically couplingan activator circuit to the sensor and the at least one UV lightemitter, the activator circuit arranged to activate the at least one UVlight emitter in response to the sensor detecting that the object isaligned along the axis extending from the sensor.

Any two or more of the features described in this specification,including in this summary section, may be combined to formimplementations not specifically described in this specification.Furthermore, while this specification may refer to examples of systems,methods, and devices related to devices for humans, such techniques alsoapply equally to cleaning and sanitizing devices associated withanimals.

The details of one or more implementations are set forth in theaccompanying drawings and the following description. Other features andadvantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and fromthe claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an exemplary sole debris cleaning andsanitization system and/or device;

FIG. 2 shows a diagram of a computer system;

FIGS. 3A-3G show a series of user interface screen shots displayed to auser as they operate the exemplary sole debris cleaning and sanitizationsystems of FIGS. 1 and 4 ;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a sole debris cleaning and sanitizationsystem and/or device that illustrates a user's position before, during,and after the debris cleaning and sanitization process;

FIG. 5 shows a process for performing debris cleaning and sanitization;

FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C show a specification table for an exemplaryconfiguration of a debris cleaning and sanitization device;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a UV sanitization system including aUV shielding layer;

FIG. 8 shows a process for providing UV shielding;

FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate a shutter in the open or pass throughposition and in a closed or blocking position;

FIG. 10A shows a row of shutters including power control signal inputs;

FIG. 10B shows an array of shutters arranged in multiple rows andcolumns;

FIG. 11A shows a UV sanitizing housing including optical sensorsarranged to detect the presence of an object such as footwear;

FIG. 11B shows the UV sanitizing housing of FIG. 17A when the UV emitteris emitting light while a portion of the shutters are open to passthrough UV light toward the footwear and another portion of the shuttersare closed to block UV light not directed toward the footwear;

FIG. 12 is an exploded view 1800 of multiple layers of a UV sanitizingdevice illustrating how the optical sensor(s) 1802, 1804, and 1806 candetect the shape of footwear with a shield layer 1808 including an arrayof cell and/or shutters 1810. The shield layer 1808 has a portion 1812of cells that are open to pass through UV light toward the footwearwhile another portion 1814 of the cells and/or shutters is closed toblock portions of UV light not directed toward the footwear from passingthrough the shield layer 1808;

FIG. 13 is an exploded view of multiple layers of a UV sanitizing deviceillustrating how a mass sensing top layer detects the presence offootwear and a shield layer including an array of shutters with aportion of shutter that are open to pass through UV light toward thedetected footwear while another portion of the shutters is closed toblock UV light not directed toward the footwear from passing through theshield layer;

FIG. 14A shows a UV sanitizing housing including a mass sensing layerarranged to detect the presence of an object such as footwear and an UVlight emitter layer;

FIG. 14B shows the UV sanitizing housing of FIG. 20A when a firstportion of the UV light emitters are emitting light and another portionof the UV light emitters are not emitting UV light;

FIGS. 15A and 15B are top-down views of a UV sanitizing device showing aportion of cells that are open and portion of cells that are closeddepending on the shape of detected footwear or a portion of UV lightemitter cells that are activated and portion of UV light emitter cellsthat are not activated depending on the shape of the detected footwear;

FIG. 16 shows a debris remover arrange to remove debris from a hand-helddevice;

FIG. 17 shows a hand-held device positioned on the top surface of asanitizer interface;

FIG. 18 shows a vehicle positioned above a top surface of a sanitizerinterface;

FIG. 19 is another top-down view of a UV sanitizing device showing afirst portion of individually-controlled cells that are activated and asecond portion of individually-controlled cells that are deactivateddepending on the shape of a detected device, e.g., footwear;

FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary activator circuitincluding a sensor and UV light emitter of a UV emission interface cell;

FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram of another exemplary activator circuitincluding a sensor, UV light emitters, and a super capacitor that iselectrically coupled in a parallel with the UV light emitters;

FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram of a multiple UV emission interface cellsbeing electrically coupled in parallel with one or more capacitors.

Like reference numerals in different figures indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The application, in various implementations, addresses deficienciesassociated with cleaning and sanitizing devices used by humans oranimals. This application describes exemplary systems, methods, anddevices that effectively remove and collect debris from devices and alsoeffectively sanitize a portion of the devices including, for example,the bottoms and/or soles of footwear. The exemplary cleaning andsanitizing techniques described herein create a cleaner and healthierenvironment in daily living, recreational, and/or working areas. Theexemplary systems, methods, and devices also incorporate techniques forscreening a user from any UV light that goes beyond or escapes past theuser's device including, without limitation, deploying a UV shieldand/or controlling UV light emissions such that UV light is only emittedwhen a user's device is determined to be in a designated position.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an exemplary sole debris cleaning andsanitization system and/or device 100 including a debris cleaner 134 andsanitizer 148 within housing 102. Housing 102 includes a top surface104, a first side 106 that is adjacent to a user entry portal 140, and asecond side 108 that is adjacent to a user exit portal 142. A firstrailing 114 and second railing 116 extend along sides 144 and 146respectively and may be mounted on top surface 104. In someimplementations, only one railing such as railing 116 is mounted on topsurface 104.

Railing 116 may include one or more rails such as rail 118 that mayextend horizontally or vertically to form railing 116. In oneconfiguration, railings 114 and 116 define a pathway through which auser passes along from user entry portal 140 to user exit portal 142.Railing 114 and/or 116 may provide hand holding rails such as rail 118to allow a user to support themselves while moving along the pathway orprovide support while moving their feet to various positions along topsurface 104. Debris remover 134 may have one or more debris removalelements, e.g., brushes, extending toward a debris removal opening 110in top surface 104. The brushes may be arranged to contact the footwearsole of a user while the footwear sole is positioned over the debrisremoval opening 110 and remove debris from the footwear sole.

In one implementation, the debris removal opening 110 is in proximity orsubstantially adjacent to the first side 106 and/or user entry port 140.Stepping areas 130 may provide locations where a user can place one shoewhile contacting their other shoe with the brushes of debris remover 134or place both shoes before or after the debris removal brushes arerotated to remove debris from footwear soles. In one implementation, thebrushes of debris remover 134 are stationary, requiring a user to movethe footwear against the brushes in an abrasive manner to remove debrison the footwear soles.

Sanitizer 148 may have one or more sanitizing elements, e.g., a UVemitter that emits UV light, directed toward one or more sanitizinginterfaces 112 on top surface 104. The UV emitter or emitters mayinclude one or more UV-LEDs (e.g., Mini-LEDs or Micro-LEDs) and/or UVmercury lamps. The emitted UV light and/or rays may include wavelengthsfrom about 100 to 380 nm. The UV emitter or emitters may include atleast one of a UV-A emitter (e.g., emitting UV light having about 320 to400 nm wavelengths), a UV-B emitter (e.g., emitting UV light havingabout 280 to 320 nm wavelengths), and a UV-C emitter (e.g., emitting UVlight having about 200 to 280 nm). The sanitizing elements will besubstantially aligned with a footwear sole while the footwear sole ispositioned over the one or more sanitizing interfaces 112 to removecontaminants from the footwear sole. In one implementation, the one ormore sanitizing interfaces 112 are positioned laterally on top surface104 between debris removal opening 110 and the second side 108 and/oruser exit portal 142 of the housing 102. Sanitizing interfaces 112 mayinclude a transparent, semi-transparent, or translucent material thatpasses through UV light emitted from the one or more UV emitters towarda footwear sole or soles positioned over one or more sanitizinginterfaces 112. A sanitizing interface may include glass, plexiglass,plastic, grates, and/or a material configured to allow UV light to passthrough. The one or more sanitizing interfaces 112 may reside withinand/or define one or more sanitization areas. The sanitization areas maybe shaped to form an outline of, for example, shoes or other footwear asillustrated in FIG. 1 . Top surface 104 may include a stop area 136 toaccommodate high-heeled shoes.

Housing 102 may include one or more sensors 128 arranged to generatesensor data based on a detected position of a footwear sole, detectedposition of a user, detected temperature of a component of system 100,detected presence of debris on a footwear sole, and/or a detectedpresence of a contaminant on a footwear sole. In one implementation,sensors 128 are arranged to detect the presence and/or position offootwear soles within the sanitization areas defined by sanitizationinterfaces 112. Although not shown in FIG. 1 , system 100 may includeother sensors in proximity to debris removal opening 110 to detect whenfootwear is in proximity and/or in contact with debris remover 134.Another sensor may monitor the amount of debris collected in debrisremoval drawer 138. Drawer 138 may store debris removed from footwearand provide for convenient removal and disposal of the debris. Proximitysensors may be positioned at the user entry portal 140 and/or user exitportal 142 to detect when a user enters or exits the pathway of thesystem respectively. Sensors may include, without limitation, opticalsensors, pressure sensors, sonic sensors, haptic sensors, andtemperature sensors.

Housing 102 may include a user interface arranged to provide one or morecues to a user during operations of the device. The user interface mayinclude display 120, one or more visual indicator elements on topsurface 104, and one or more audio speakers that may issue audiocommands and/or beeps to a user to perform certain actions during thecleaning and sanitization process. The cues may include an instructionto a user to position their footwear sole or soles over the debrisremoval opening 110, position their footwear sole or soles over thesanitizing interfaces 112, enter and/or step onto portions of topsurface 104 such as, for example, stepping areas 130 when the userenters user entry portal 140, and/or exits or step off top surface 104via user exit portal 142. System 100 may include a phone caddie 122and/or storage container which may be arranged to hold a user's phoneand/or may be configured to clean and sanitize the user's phone.

System 100 may include a controller, e.g., controller 410 of FIG. 4 ,arranged to: i) receive sensor data from the one or more sensors such assensors 128; i) control operations of the debris remover 134 and/orsanitizer in 148 response to the received sensor data, and iii) send cueinstructions associated with the one or more cues to the user interfacefor display to a user via, for example, display 120. The controller mayinclude a computer system.

FIG. 2 includes a block diagram of a computer system 200 for performingthe functions of a computer such as for the controller associated withFIG. 1 and/or controller 410 of FIG. 4 . The exemplary computer system200 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 202, a memory 204, and aninterconnect bus 206. The CPU 202 may include a single microprocessor ora plurality of microprocessors for configuring computer system 200 as amulti-processor system. The memory 204 illustratively includes a mainmemory and a read only memory. The computer 200 also includes the massstorage device 208 having, for example, various disk drives, tapedrives, etc. The main memory 204 also includes dynamic random accessmemory (DRAM) and high-speed cache memory. In operation, the main memory204 stores at least portions of instructions and data for execution bythe CPU 202.

The mass storage 208 may include one or more magnetic disk or tapedrives or optical disk drives or solid state memory, for storing dataand instructions for use by the CPU 202. At least one component of themass storage system 208, preferably in the form of a disk drive, solidstate, or tape drive, stores the database used for processing sensordata and/or controlling operations of system 100 and/or 400. The massstorage system 208 may also include one or more drives for variousportable media, such as a floppy disk, flash drive, a compact disc readonly memory (CD-ROM, DVD, CD-RW, and variants), memory stick, or anintegrated circuit non-volatile memory adapter (i.e. PC-MCIA adapter) toinput and output data and code to and from the computer system 200.

The computer system 200 may also include one or more input/outputinterfaces for communications, shown by way of example, as interface 210and/or transceiver for data communications via the network 212 (ornetwork 104 of FIG. 1 ). The data interface 210 may be a modern, anEthernet card or any other suitable data communications device. Toprovide the functions of a computer 102, the data interface 210 mayprovide a relatively high-speed link to a network 212, such as anintranet, or the Internet, either directly or through another externalinterface. The communication link to the network 212 may be, forexample, optical, wired, or wireless (e.g., via satellite or cellularnetwork). Alternatively, the computer system 200 may include a mainframeor other type of host computer system capable of Web-basedcommunications via the network 212. The computer system 200 may includesoftware for operating a network application such as a web server and/orweb client.

The computer system 200 may also include suitable input/output ports,that may interface with a portable data storage device, or use theinterconnect bus 206 for interconnection with a local display 216 andkeyboard 214 or the like serving as a local user interface forprogramming and/or data retrieval purposes. The display 216 and/ordisplay 120 may include a touch screen capability to enable users tointerface with the system 200 by touching portions of the surface of thedisplay 216. Remote operations personnel may interact with the system200 for controlling and/or programming the system from remote terminaldevices via the network 212.

The computer system 200 may run a variety of application programs andstore associated data in a database of mass storage system 208. One ormore such applications may include a cleaning and sanitization processthat controls various components of system 100 and/or provides cue to auser to perform certain actions during the cleaning and sanitizationprocess.

The components contained in the computer system 200 may enable thecomputer system to be used as a server, workstation, personal computer,network terminal, mobile computing device, and the like. As discussedabove, the computer system 200 may include one or more applications thatenable cleaning and sanitization of a footwear sole or soles. The system200 may include software and/or hardware that implements a web serverapplication. The web server application may include software such asHTML, XML, WML, SGML, PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor), CGI, and likelanguages.

The foregoing features of the disclosure may be realized as a softwarecomponent operating in the system 200 where the system 200 includes UNIXworkstation, a Windows workstation, a LINUX workstation, or other typeof workstation. Other operating systems may be employed such as, withoutlimitation, Windows, MAC OS, and LINUX. In some aspects, the softwarecan optionally be implemented as a C language computer program, or acomputer program written in any high level language including, withoutlimitation, JavaScript, Java, CSS, Python, PHP, Ruby, C++, C, Shell, C#,Objective-C, Go, R, TeX, VimL, Perl, Scala, CoffeeScript, Emacs Lisp,Swift, Fortran, or Visual BASIC. Certain script-based programs may beemployed such as XML, WML, PHP, and so on. The system 200 may use adigital signal processor (DSP).

As stated previously, the mass storage 208 may include a database. Thedatabase may be any suitable database system, including the commerciallyavailable Microsoft Access database, and can be a local or distributeddatabase system. A database system may implement Sybase and/or an SQLServer. The database may be supported by any suitable persistent datamemory, such as a hard disk drive, RAID system, tape drive system,floppy diskette, or any other suitable system. The system 200 mayinclude a database that is integrated with the system 200, however, itis understood that, in other implementations, the database and massstorage 208 can be an external element.

In certain implementations, the system 200 may include an Internetbrowser program and/or to be configured to operate as a web server. Insome configurations, the client and/or web server may be configured torecognize and interpret various network protocols that may be used by aclient or server program. Commonly used protocols include HypertextTransfer Protocol (HTTP), File Transfer Protocol (FTP), Telnet, andSecure Sockets Layer (SSL), and Transport Layer Security (TLS), forexample. However, new protocols and revisions of existing protocols maybe frequently introduced. Thus, in order to support a new or revisedprotocol, a new revision of the server and/or client application may becontinuously developed and released.

The computer system 200 may include a web server running a Web 2.0application or the like. Web applications running on system 200 may useserver-side dynamic content generation mechanisms such, withoutlimitation, Java servlets, CGI, PHP, or ASP. In certain embodiments,mashed content may be generated by a web browser running, for example,client-side scripting including, without limitation, JavaScript and/orapplets on a wireless device.

In certain implementations, system 100, 200, and/or 400 may includeapplications that employ asynchronous JavaScript+XML (Ajax) and liketechnologies that use asynchronous loading and content presentationtechniques. These techniques may include, without limitation, XHTML andCSS for style presentation, document object model (DOM) API exposed by aweb browser, asynchronous data exchange of XML data, and web browserside scripting, e.g., JavaScript. Certain web-based applications andservices may utilize web protocols including, without limitation, theservices-orientated access protocol (SOAP) and representational statetransfer (REST). REST may utilize HTTP with XML.

The systems 100, 200, and/or 400 may also provide enhanced security anddata encryption. Enhanced security may include access control, biometricauthentication, cryptographic authentication, message integritychecking, encryption, digital rights management services, and/or otherlike security services. The security may include protocols such as IPSECand IKE. The encryption may include, without limitation, DES, 3DES, AES,RSA, and any like public key or private key based schemes.

Generally, the inventive debris cleaning and sanitization process mayinclude a sequence of stages where certain operations and/or useractions are performed. First, debris removal brushes of debris remover134 and/or 406 engage and/or are activated by controller 410 upon adetected presence of a user's footwear within the vicinity of debrisremoval opening 110. Narrow heeled shoes may be accommodated viaplacement of a high heel in designated stop area 136. A brush motor thatwas driving and/or rotating the brushes of debris remover 134 disengageswhen the footwear is detected by a sensor as being removed from thebrushes and/or the debris removal opening 110. In one implementation,the duration in which the one or more brush motors are engaged is bydefault, infinite while a sensor detects that footwear is in thevicinity of the debris removal opening 110. This duration may beestablished during the system commissioning.

As debris accumulates in debris removal drawer 138, it may be discardedwhen full, which may be monitored for available capacity by a controllersuch as controller 410 via a drawer sensor. In some implementations,system 100 and/or 400 prompts, via a user interface such as interface412 and/or display 120 for debris removal periodically, such as oncedaily. Custom drawer liners may line drawer 138 to simplify the debrisremoval process. After debris removal, a user places their shoes onsanitization areas defined by sanitization interfaces 112. An LEDindication may provide proper placement feedback to a user of the shoeposition(s). One or more LED indicators may be placed adjacent to thesanitization areas and/or display 120 may provide a graphical image ofLED indicators such as shown in FIG. 3A-3C of indicators surrounding thesanitization areas. A red indicator may indicate that footwear placementis not properly aligned with sanitization interfaces 112 while a greenindicator may indicate proper alignment of footwear. Audio, visual,and/or haptic commands and/or feedback may be provided alternatively oradditionally to the user to effect proper footwear alignment via, forexample, interface 412. Footwear placement indicators may be activatedand deactivation by controller 410 based on sensor data received fromsensors such as sensors 128 that indicator the presence or absence offootwear in certain locations on the top surface 104.

Once proper alignment is achieved, UV sanitization of footwear soles isactivated by, for example, controller 410. The duration of sanitizationmay be configured by default by the manufacturer, by a controller suchas controller 410, remotely by a remote programmer, and/or manually by auser. In one implementation, the sanitization duration, e.g., theduration that. UV emitters are activated and emit UV light, may be about8-10 seconds. The range of UV emitter activation duration may beadjustable from 1 second up to 180 seconds, or longer. In oneimplementation, an LED indication of the sanitization process isprovided while sanitization occurs. A UV ray shield such as UV shield124 may protect the user from direct. UV light rays that escape past theuser's footwear during sanitization. The UV shield 124 may be foldabletoward and away from the user and/or pathway. Controller 410 may engagea motor to deploy UV shield 124 before UV emitter activation and retractUV shield 124 after UV emitter activation. UV shield 124 may alsofunction as a gate to inhibit a user from exiting via the user exitportal 142 until the sanitization function is completed.

When sanitization is complete, UV light(s) and emitters turn off and/orare instructed to turn off by controller 410 and the sanitization LEDindication ceases. A user may be visually and/or audibly prompted toexit the machine top surface 104 at the opposite end from which he/sheentered, i.e., via the user exit portal 142. A display such as display120 and/or speaker may provide visual and/or audio confirmation andfeedback to a user, as well as provide function, stage, and/or errorstatus information to the user. Audio feedback may include simulatedvoice phrases and/or one or more audio beeps.

FIGS. 3A-3G show a series of user interface screen shots 300, 316, 320,340, 350, 360, and 380 displayed to a user as they operate the exemplarysole debris cleaning and sanitization systems 100 and/or 400 duringvarious stages of the cleaning and sanitization process. FIG. 3Aincludes a screen shot 300 of display 120 indicating that system 100and/or 400, i.e., the unit, is ready for cleaning and sanitization of auser's footwear sole(s). FIG. 3B includes a screen shot 316 of display120 including a shoe size menu or table 318. Display 120 may via, forexample, a touchscreen, enable a user to input their footwear size tothe system 100 and/or 400. System 100 and/or 400 may use the inputtedfootwear size to configure sanitizer 404 to emit UV light over an areatoward the footwear sole over an area corresponding to the sole size.FIG. 3C includes a screen shot 320 of display 120 indicating when thesystem 100 and/or 400 is operating in the sole debris removal stage.FIG. 3D includes a screen shot 340 of display 120 indicating when thesystem 100 and/or 400 is operating in the sanitization stage. FIG. 3Eincludes a screen shot 350 indicating that system 100 and/or 400 hascompleted the sanitization stage by, for example, removing anillumination within a footwear outline 352 and/or illuminating a yellowcolor icon of indicator 312. FIG. 3F includes a screen shot 360 ofdisplay 120 showing a troubleshooting information page or table 362regarding status of systems 100, 200, and/or 400. FIG. 3G includes ascreen shot 380 of display 120 showing programmable settings associatedwith various components of systems 100, 200, and/or 400 in table 382.

Screen shot 300 of FIG. 3A may include a footwear position image 302 ina first section 304 and a sanitization status based on indicators 306 insection 308. Footwear position image 302 shows that no footwear isengaged with debris remover 134 and/or 406. Section 308 may include atimer indicator 310 that indicates to a user the duration and/orremaining amount of time that UV emitters will be activated. Indicator310 may include an analog clock image, counter, and/or status bar thatindicates a remaining amount of time that sanitization will beactivated. Screen shot 300 may include one or more status indicators 312that indicate status of the system and/or whether system 100 and/or 400is ready to perform a stage of the cleaning and sanitization.

For example, different colored indicators may be used to indicatedifferent stages and/or different statuses of systems 100 and/or 400.For example, a green indicator 312 may be illuminated when the system100 and/or 400 is ready to operate and/or a particular stage is ready tobe initiated or is in operation. Status indicators may be illuminatedaccording to table 362 of FIG. 3D. Screen shot 300 may include one ormore selectable icons 314 that enable a user to navigate to variousscreens or return to a “Home” screen, navigate to a troubleshootingpage, navigate to a system configuration page, and/or navigate to aninformation and/or search page. Screen shots 320 and 340 may have thesame or similar visual indicators and/or images as screen shot 300.Screen shots 320, 340, 360 and 380 may also include navigation and/orsystem icons 314. Screen shot 380 may also include a settings table 382that enables a user to configure certain setting such as, for example,UV emitter activation duration.

In one implementation, system 100 and/or 400 may operate to performfootwear sole(s) cleaning and sanitization according to the followoperations. Display 120 and/or user interface 412 may illuminate a“Ready” LED and/or indicator such as green indicator 312, indicatingthat system 100 and/or 400 is ready for use. A user may then place onefoot onto sole debris remover 134 and/or debris removal surface (brusharea) at debris removal opening 110. One or more sensors may sense thepresence of the users footwear. In response to detecting the footwear,display 120 may have a debris removal stage indicator and/or LED startblinking. After about a 1 second delay, controller 410 may initiate thedebris removal process by engaging and/or activating one or more brushmotors. Display 120 and/or interface 412 may change the illumination ofthe debris removal stage indicator and/or LED from blinking to solidillumination on display 120. Display 120 via screen shot 320 may showposition image 322 indicating that the footwear is engaged and/or in thevicinity of debris remover 134.

The debris removal process continues until one or more sensors sensethat the foot and/or footwear is no longer present and/or within thevicinity of debris remover 134 or the process has timed out. Once thedebris remover timer has timed out or the absence of footwear isdetected and sensor data of such status is received by controller 410,controller 410 may deactivate the brush cleaning motors to stop thedebris cleaning brushes from rotating. Also, the debris removalindicator and/or LED may be turned off and the “Ready” indicator and/orLED is illuminated. System 100 and/or 400 may include an E-Stop(emergency stop) button that a user may select on a support handleand/or rail 118 to deactivate the brush cleaning motors.

A user may then place one foot onto one or more of the UV sanitizerinterfaces 112 and/or sanitization areas. Sensors such as sensor 128 maydetect the presence of the user's shoe and send sensor data tocontroller 410 while display 120 may illuminate a sanitization stageindicator and/or LED that blinks on display 120. Green/Red Arrows mayindicate correct/incorrect shoe sole positioning with respect to the oneor more sanitizing interfaces 112 on display 120 and/or via indicatorelements on top surface 104. When a shoe is properly positioned, thegreen position arrows change from red to green and hold.

The user may then place their second foot onto the remainingsanitization area of the sanitizing interfaces 112. Sensors 128 may thendetect the presence of the second shoe and send sensor data tocontroller 410 to indicate the presence of the second shoe in thevicinity of sanitizing interfaces 112. Green/Red Arrows may indicatecorrect/incorrect shoe sole positioning via display 120 and/or viaindicator elements on top surface 104. When the second shoe is properlypositioned, the green position arrows illuminate and hold. After bothshoes are properly positioned, sanitization stage indicator and/or LEDof display 120 blinks rapidly for about 2 seconds. After two seconds,the sanitization stage indicator and/or LED illuminates solid and asanitization graphic is engaged on display 120. UV sanitization emittersmay be activated and/or engaged for the prescribed and/or configuredduration. When the UV sanitizing process is complete, the UV Emittersare shut off by controller 410, sanitization indicators and/or LEDindication ends, the sanitization graphic turns off, and the Readyindicator and/or LED is illuminated.

Whenever controller 410 in response to, for example, sensor data,detects a fault, display 120 and/or interface 412 may illuminate a redindicator and/or LED and/or warning icon to indicate to a user that afault has occurred. This may include a motor failure, overheating, UVemitter failure, and the like. System 100 and/or 400 may includeoptional cell phone sanitization and charging functions that may operateindependently from sole cleaning and sanitizing functions. Display 120and/or interface 412 may include representative icons that will bedisplayed accordingly during the respective phone functions. In certainconfigurations, both UV sanitization and debris cleaning are notoperated simultaneously. In one implementation, no functions can beperformed while system 100 and/or 400 is in a fault mode and/or stage.System 100 and/or 400 may prompt a user to discard collected debris fromdebris collection drawer 138 periodically such as once daily.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a footwear sole debris cleaning andsanitization system and/or device 400 that illustrates a user's positionbefore 422, during 424, and after 426, the debris cleaning andsanitization process. System 400 includes a housing 402 having afootwear sanitizer 404, debris remover 406, sensors 408, a controller410, a user interface 412, and data interface 414. Housing 402 mayinclude a top surface 420 and/or 104 on which a user may stand in, forexample, position 424. System 400 may also include user entry portal 416and user exit portal 418.

User entry portal 416 may include a gate or other movable barrier thatallows a user to step onto top surface 420, but prevents the user fromstepping back off the top surface to position 422 to prevent possiblere-contamination of the user's footwear. The barrier may include,without limitation, a swing arm, a railing, a single swinging panel,dual swinging panel, and a turn-style. The barrier may be configured toswing inwardly toward user exist portal 418 from a substantiallyperpendicular orientation with respect to a railing such as railing 116,to a substantially parallel orientation with respect to railing 116 toallow a user to enter the pathway on top surface 420. The barrier,however, may not be configured to swing backwards toward position 422 toprevent a user from back tracking from top surface 420 through the userentry port 416. The barrier may be mounted on and/or extend from railing114 and/or 116. The barrier may be mounted independently on housing 402.User exit portal 418 may include a similar barrier as described withrespect to user entry portal 416 to possibly prevent a user fromstepping on top surface 420 from user exit portal 418 and/or to preventa user from prematurely exiting the top surface 420 before thesanitization process is completed. As previously discussed, UV shield124 may also function as a barrier to prevent an improper entry or apremature exit by a user.

FIG. 5 shows a process 500 for performing debris cleaning andsanitization. Process 500 includes: providing a housing 102 and/or 402(Step 502) and configuring the housing 102 and/or 402 to have: a topsurface 104 and/or 420 arranged to support a user while standing on thetop surface 104 and/or 420, a first side 106 positioned adjacent to auser entry portal 140 and/or 416, and a second side 108 positioned on anopposing side of the housing 102 to the first side 106 where the secondside 106 is positioned adjacent to a user exit portal 142 and/or 418(Step 504); mounting at least one railing 114 and/or 116 on the topsurface 104 and/or 420 (Step 506); extending the at least one railing114 and/or 116 between the first side 106 and the second side 108 of thehousing 102 and/or 402, where the at least one railing 114 and/or 116defines a pathway through which the user passes along from the userentry portal 140 and/or 416 to the user exit portal 142 and/or 418 (Step508); removing debris from the footwear sole using a debris remover 134and 406 having one or more debris removal elements extending toward adebris removal opening 110 in the top surface 104 and/or 420 (Step 510);configuring the one or more debris removal elements to contact thefootwear sole while the footwear sole is positioned over the debrisremoval opening 110 (Step 512); and positioning the debris removalopening 110 in proximity to the first side 106 of the housing 102 and/or402 (Step 514).

Process 500 further includes: removing contaminants from the footwearsole using a sanitizer 148 and/or 404 having one or more sanitizingelements directed toward one or more sanitizing interfaces 112 in thetop surface 104 and/or 420 (Step 516); aligning the one or moresanitizing elements with the footwear sole while the footwear sole ispositioned over the one or more sanitizing interfaces 112 and removingcontaminants from the footwear sole (Step 518); positioning the one ormore sanitizing interfaces 112 laterally on the top surface 104 and/or420 between the debris removal opening 110 and the second side 108 ofhousing 102 and/or 402 (Step 520); generating sensor data from one ormore sensors such as sensors 128 based on at least one of a detectedposition of the footwear sole, detected a position of the user, detectedtemperature of the device, detected presence of debris on the footwearsole, and detected presence of a contaminant on the footwear sole (Step522); controlling operations of at least one of the debris remover 134and/or 406 and sanitizer 148 and/or 404 in response to the sensor data(Step 524); sending cue instructions associated with the one or morecues to a user interface 412 including display 120 (Step 526); andproviding the one or more cues to the user during operations of thesystem via the user interface 412, where the one or more cues includesan instruction to the user to position the footwear sole over at leastone of the debris removal opening 110 and the sanitizing interfaces 148.

FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C show a specification table 600 for an exemplaryconfiguration of a debris cleaning and sanitization system such assystem 100 and/or 400.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a UV sanitization system 1300 suchas may be implemented in sanitizer 404 or system 100 including a UVlight source layer 1302, UV light blocking layer 1304, and a footwearsensing layer 1306 that may be in contact with a user's footwear 1308.Footwear sensing layer 1306 may be arranged to detect the presenceand/or size of footwear 1308 positioned above layer 1306. Footwearsensing layer 1306 may include a touchscreen and/or touch-sensitivesurface arranged to sense the footwear 1306 size and/or position. Layer1306 may include a resistive touchscreen, capacitive touchscreen, aprojected capacitive touchscreen, an infrared touchscreen, and/or asurface acoustic wave (SAW) touch screen. Light blocking layer 1304 mayinclude switchable glass to control the transmission of UV light from aUV light source in layer 1302 toward footwear 1308. UV light blockinglayer 1304 may include a planar array of microshutters arranged toselectively allow UV light to pass through toward footwear 1308 whileselectively blocking UV light that would otherwise escape past footwear1308 and possibly toward a user's body. Switchable glass of layer 1304may include passive or active elements. For example, microshutters areactive elements that close or open to block or allow light to passthrough respectively. Layer 1304 may include electrochromic switchableglass. Microshutters may include microblinds. Microshutters may be basedon curling electrodes and/or microelectromechanical systems (MEMS).System 1300 may include an additional translucent and/or transparentlayer positioned above layer 1306 and arranged to act as a sanitizinginterface.

In operation, light source layer 1302 may include one or more UV lightemitters arranged to emit UV-A, UV-B, and/or UV-C light 1310 towardfootwear 1308. Layer 1306 senses the presence and/or size of footwear1308. Layer 1306 may sense the area of the sole of footwear 1308 incontact with or close proximity to a top surface of layer 1306. Layer1306 may provide sensor data to controller 1312 and/or controller 410.Based on the sensor data received, controller 1312 or 410 may sendinstructions to layer 1304 and/or various elements thereof (e.g.,shutters) to selectively activate (e.g., open) shutters to allow UVlight to pass through and toward the sole of footwear 1308 whileselectively de-activating (e.g., close) shutters to block UV light inareas of the top surface of layer 1306 that are not in contact with orin close proximity to the sole of footwear 1308. Controller 1312 and/or410 may also control activation of the one or more UV light emitters ofUV light source layer 1302 based on the detected presence of footwear1308.

FIG. 8 shows a process 1400 for providing UV shielding including:supporting first footwear, such as footwear 1102, positioned above asanitizing interface such as interface 112 (Step 1402); detecting apresence of the first footwear 1102 using one or more sensors 408 (Step1404); in response to detecting the presence of the first footwear,positioning an adjustable UV shield such as UV shield 1200 adjacent tothe sanitizing interface 112 (Step 1410); and conforming the adjustableUV shield 1200 substantially to a shape of the first footwear 1102positioned above the sanitizing interface 112 including positioning afirst perimeter of the adjustable UV shield 1200 in close proximitylaterally to a perimeter of a sole of the first footwear 1102 (Step1412), emitting UV light from an UV emitter such as emitter 1212 towardthe first footwear 1102 (Step 1406); passing the UV light through atranslucent material of the sanitizing interface 112 (Step 1408).

FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate a cell and/or shutter 1500 in a closed orblocking position 1502 and in an open or pass through position 1504respectively. When switch 1508 is open, there is no voltage potentialdifference across the cell 1500 and, therefore, the elements 1510 arenot aligned, which blocks the UV light 1506 from passing through thecell 1500. When switch 1508 is closed, there is a voltage potentialacross the cell 1500 which causes the elements 1510 to be aligned inparallel to, thereby, allow the UV light 1506 to pass through the cell1500. In some implementations, each shutter and/or cell 1500 includes aminiaturized polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) and/or PDLC-likedevice that becomes transparent when an electric current is supplied toit. Each shutter and/or cell 1500 may contain a layer with droplets ofpolarized, light-blocking microscopic elements and/or liquid crystals(LC) 1510. In the natural (non-energized/no voltage applied/no current)state, these LC elements 1510 are randomly arranged within each cell1500 and do not permit passage of UV-C light. However, when energizedwith an appropriate, low DC voltage, the LC components and/or elements1510 align themselves in the cell and create open slits through whichthe UV-C light passes.

FIG. 10A shows a row 1600 of cells 1602 through 1612 including powercontrol signal input lines 1614 through 1624. In this configuration, allof the cells 1602 through 1612 share a common return or negative inputline 1626. A voltage and/or current applied via control signal inputlines 1614 through 1624 may be controlled by a microprocessor and/orcontroller 1312. Controller 1312 may, for example independently controleach cell 1602 through 1612 by switching voltages and/or current on eachcontrol signal input line 1614 through 1624. For example, to place cell1602 in an open and/or pass through state, controller 1312 applies avoltage and/or current to cell 1602 via input line 1614 that creates acurrent through cell 1602 between input line 1614 and return line 1626to align its LC elements to allow light to pass through the cell 1602.Controller 1312 can selectively set any of cells 1602 through 1612 to aclosed state by removing a voltage and/or current applied to a selectedcell via its respective input line 1614 through 1624. While the cells1602 through 1612 include LC elements, other types of cells and/orshutters may be used including, for example, microelectromechanical(MEMS) based shutters.

FIG. 10B shows an array 1650 of cells and/or shutters arranged inmultiple rows 1652 and columns 1654. In some implementations, array 1650includes a tightly arranged array of miniature cells 1656 that can beindividually actuated by a processor such as controller 1312 to beeither opened or closed based on their X-Y coordinate location in thearray 1650. Controller 1312 may access a table and/or database in amemory such as memory 204 that maps each cell of the array 1650. Eachentry of the table may store a 1 for an open or activated cell and a 0for a closed or deactivated cell. Each entry may be set based on shapedata received from at least one shape sensor that detects the shape of asurface of footwear facing a sanitizing interface. Controller 1312 mayreview the table to determine which cells of array 1656 to open or closefor screening cells or to activate or deactivate for light emittercells. For example, cell 1656 is the fifth cell in row 1 of array 1650.Hence, its X-Y coordinates in the table may be (5,1).

FIG. 11A shows a UV sanitizing housing 1700 during a footwear detectionphase including optical shape sensors 1702 and 1704 arranged to detectthe presence of an object such as footwear 1710. FIG. 11B shows the UVsanitizing housing 1700 when the UV emitter 1714 is emitting UV light1724 while a portion 1720 of the shutters and/or cells 1718 are open topass through the UV light 1724 toward footwear 1710 while anotherportion 1722 of the shutters and/or cells 1718 are closed to block UVlight 1724 not directed toward the footwear 1710. The shape sensors 1702and 1704 are able to detect the 2-dimensional extent of the shape of theobject that is in close proximity to the top surface of housing 1700using optical detection signals 1726 and 1728 respectively. Housing 1700includes a sanitizing interface 1706 including a top surface 1708arranged to support footwear 1710 positioned above the sanitizinginterface 1706. The sanitizing interface 1706 may include a translucentmaterial arranged to allow UV light to pass through.

The shape sensors 1702 and 1704 may generate shape data associated witha detected shape of a surface 1712 of the footwear 1710 facing thesanitizing interface 1706. Housing 1700 includes at least one UV lightemitter 1714 arranged to emit UV light toward footwear 1710. Housing1700 further includes a shield panel 1716 positioned between UV lightemitter 1714 and sanitizing interface 1706. The shield panel 1716 mayinclude an array of screening cells 1718. Although not shown if FIGS.17A and 17B, the housing 1700 may include a controller such ascontroller 1312 arranged to: i) receive the shape data from sensors 1702and 1704; ii) open a first portion 1720 of the array of screen cells1718 and close a second portion 1722 of the array of screen cells 1718in response to the received shape data; and iii) activate UV lightemitter 1714 once the array of screen cells are configured in responseto the shape data. Housing 1700 may include a proximity sensor 1730arranged to detect the presence of footwear 1710 when positioned abovesanitizing interface 1706, and determine when to start or end thesanitizing process.

In operation, a user places their shoe and/or footwear 1710 (or otherobject) on the defined sanitization areas and/or sanitizing interface1706. Proximity sensor 1730, which may be located on or about topsurface 1708, senses the presence of footwear 1710 and activates theoptical detection sensors 1702 and 1704. All screen cells 1718 areenergized and/or opened to permit the optical detection of footwear 1710located above sanitizing interface and/or shield screen layer 1706. Theshape sensor(s) 1702 and 1704 capture the shoe sole and/or bottomsurface 1712 of footwear 1720 as two-dimensional shape data and transmitthe shape data to controller 1312.

Controller 1312 analyzes and/or processes the shape data and/orinformation and determines which screening cells 1718 within the array1716 are to be energized with prescribed voltage to open the cell, orde-energized to close the cell and block the UV-C light from UV emitter1714. The appropriate cells 1718 within the two-dimensional shape formopposing the bottom surface 1712 of footwear 1710 are energized topermit UV-C light passage and other cells not opposing the bottomsurface 1712 are de-energized to safely block UV-C light passage frombeing transmitted toward the user. The UV-C emitter(s) 1714 is switchedon for a predetermined period of time and sanitization of bottom surface1712 of footwear 1710 occurs. When complete, UV-C emitter(s) 1714 isturned off by controller 1312 and the energized cells 1718 of portion1720 are de-energized. The sanitizing cycle is complete.

FIG. 12 is an exploded view 1800 of multiple layers of a UV sanitizingdevice illustrating how the optical sensor(s) 1802, 1804, and 1806 candetect the shape of footwear. The multiple layers include a shield layer1808 having an array of cells and/or shutters 1810. The shield layer1808 has a portion 1812 of cells that are open to pass through UV lighttoward the footwear while another portion 1814 of the cells and/orshutters is closed to block portions of UV light not directed toward thefootwear from passing through the shield layer 1808. The multiple layersmay include sanitizing interface and/or surface layer 1816 and a bottomprotective layer 1818.

FIG. 13 is an exploded view 1900 of multiple layers of a UV sanitizingdevice illustrating how a mass sensing top layer 1902 detects thepresence and/or shape of footwear. The multiple layers include a shieldlayer 1904 having an array of cells and/or shutters 1906 with a portion1908 of the cells 1906 that are open to pass through UV light toward thedetected footwear while another portion 1910 of the cells 1906 is closedto block UV light not directed toward the footwear from passing throughthe shield layer 1904. The multiple layers may include layers 1912 and1914 above and below shield layer 1904 and a bottom protective layer1916. Mass sensing top layer 1902 may include weight sensing elements,capacitive sensing elements, and/or other elements arranged to detect anobject in close proximity to layer 1902.

FIG. 14A shows a UV sanitizing housing 2000 including a mass sensinglayer 2002 arranged to detect the presence of an object such as footwear2010. The mass sensing layer 2002 includes at least one mass shapesensor 2006 arranged to detect the 2-dimensional extent of the shape offootwear 2010 that is in close proximity the sanitizing interface 2004.Sanitizing interface 2004 includes a top surface 2008 arranged tosupport footwear 2010 positioned above the sanitizing interface 2004.The sanitizing interface 2004 may include a translucent materialarranged to allow UV light to pass through. The at least one shapesensor 2006 is arranged to generate shape data associated with adetected shape of a surface 2012 of footwear 2010 facing the sanitizinginterface 2004. A light emitting panel 2014 includes an array 2016 of UVlight emitter cells 2018 arranged to emit UV-C light toward thesanitizing interface and/or top layer 2004. Although not shown in FIGS.20A and 206 , a controller such as controller 1312 is arranged to: i)receive the shape data and ii) activate a first portion 2020 of thearray 2016 of UV light emitter cells 2018 and deactivate a secondportion 2022 of the array 2016 of UV light emitter cells 2018 inresponse to the received shape data.

FIG. 14B shows the UV sanitizing housing 2000 when the UV emitter panel2014 is emitting UV light while a portion 2020 of the UV light emittercells 2018 are activated to emit UV light toward footwear 2010 andanother portion 2022 of the UV light emitter cells 2018 are deactivatedand do not emit UV light. Housing 2000 may include a proximity sensor2024 arranged to detect the presence of footwear 2010 when positionedabove sanitizing interface 2004.

In operation, an optical or mass detection sensor(s) 2006 detects the2-dimensional extent of the shape of the bottom surface 2026 of footwear2010 that is in close proximity to the top surface 2008 of sanitizinginterface 2004. Controller 1312 interfaces with a memory such as memory204 which may contain firmware and/or a database that understands thetwo-dimensional shape of the bottom surface 2026 defined in shape dataprovided by sensor(s) 2006 and directs portion 2020 of the array 2016 ofUV light emitter cells 2018 to be activated while it directs portion2022 of the array 2016 of UV light emitter cells 2018 to be deactivated.Each of the UV light emitter cells 2018 may include a Micro- or Mini-LEDUV-C emitter. The quantity, size, density, and arrangement depend on theapplication. This system and/or housings 1700 and 2000 can be duplicatedone or more times to sanitize multiple surfaces simultaneously. Thesensor technology selection may depend upon the sensing needs of theobject to be sanitized. The system defined space is scalable up or downby adding sensor and UV-C LED components.

In operation, a user places their footwear 2010 (or other object) on thedefined sanitization areas and/or sanitizing interface 2004. Proximitysensor 2024, which may be located on or about surface 2008, senses apresence of a shoe and/or footwear 2010 (or other object) and activatesthe optical or mass detection sensor(s) 2006. The sensor(s) 2006 capturethe shoe sole or bottom surface 2026 (or other object) two-dimensionalshape, generate shape data, and transmit the shape data to controller1312. Controller 1312 processes and/or analyzes the shape data anddetermines which UV light emitter cells 2018 are to be energized andde-energized. The appropriate UV light emitter cells 2018 within and/oropposing the two-dimensional shape form are energized to emit thesanitizing UV-C light toward the bottom surface 2026 of footwear 2010.When complete, the UV light emitter cells 2018 are turned off bycontroller 1312 and the sanitizing cycle is complete.

FIGS. 15A and 15B are top down views 2100 and 2150 respectively of a UVsanitizing device showing a portion 2102 of screening cells 2106 thatare open and portion 2104 of screening cells 2106 that are closeddepending on the size and/or shape of detected footwear or a portion2102 of UV light emitters that are activated and portion 2104 of UVlight emitters 2106 that are not activated depending on the size of thedetected footwear.

FIG. 16 shows a debris remover 2200 arrange to remove debris from ahand-held device 2202. The hand-held device 2202 may include a mobilephone. Debris remover includes a housing 2204 having a debris removerunit 2206. The debris remover assembly 2206 may include one or morebrushes. As shown in FIG. 16 , the assembly 2206 may include one or morerotary brushes arrange to rotate and remove debris from a portion ofdevice 2202 in contact with assembly 2206. A user may move and/or slidedevice 2202 along the top surface 2208 of debris remover 2200 and overassembly 2206 that, in turn, may rotate and remove debris from device2202. The debris may be collected in cavity 2210 for later removal.Assembly 2206 may be motor driven. Debris remover 2200 may have one ormare sensor that detect the presence of device 2202 in proximity todebris remover 2200. A controller such as controller 200 or 410 maycontrol activation and/or deactivation of assembly 2206 based on sensordata from the one or more sensors indicating the presence or absence ofdevice 2202 in proximity to the debris remover 2200.

FIG. 17 shows a sanitizer device 2300 with a hand-held device 2302positioned on the top surface 2304 of the sanitizer device 2300. Thesanitizer device 2300 may include multiple layers such as a shield layer2304 having an array of cells and/or shutters with a portion of thecells that are open to pass through UV light toward the detectedhand-held device 2302 while another portion of the cells is closed toblock UV light not directed toward the hand-held device 2302 frompassing through the shield layer 2304. The multiple layers may includelayers 2306 and 2308 above and below shield layer 2304 and a bottomprotective layer 2310. Mass sensing top layer 2312 may include weightsensing elements, capacitive sensing elements, and/or other elementsarranged to detect an object such as device 2302 in close proximity tolayer 2312. The arrangement and operation of device 2300 is similar tothe arrangement and operations of the UV sanitizing device of FIG. 19 .

FIG. 18 shows another UV sanitizing system 2400 arrange to sanitize aportion of another device, e.g., a vehicle 2402, positioned above a topsurface 2404 of a housing 2406 the sanitizer system 2400. Thearrangement and operations of system 2400 may be similar to thearrangement and operations of the UV sanitizer systems of FIGS. 19 and23 . However, the housing 2406 is sized to support and/or provide UVemissions and shield for relatively larger devices such as vehicle 2402.

FIG. 19 is another top-down view 700 of a UV sanitizing device showing afirst portion 704 of individually-controlled cells 702 that areactivated and a second portion 706 of individually-controlled cells 702that are deactivated depending on the shape of a detected device, e.g.,footwear 708. FIG. 19 also shows how a third portion 710 of the cells702 are activated along with portion 704 to cover the shape of a largerfootwear 712.

FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary activator circuit 800including a sensor 802 and UV light emitter 804 of a UV emissioninterface cell such as a cell 702 of FIG. 19 . Circuit 800 may includeone or more biasing resistors 806 and 808 and/or transistors 810, 812,and 814 that may be configured to set a sensitivity and/or thresholdlevel of light intensity that turns on or off phototransistor 802. Forexample, phototransistor 802 may be biased to turn off when the lightintensity it receives and/or detects drops below a cut-off or thresholdlevel. The cut-off or threshold level may be set to correspond with anexpected light intensity when an object is in proximity to, adjacent to,and/or aligned along an axis extending from the phototransistor 802,i.e., the sensor. When an object is not in proximity to or aligned alongthe axis, the light intensity is likely to be at or above the cut-offlevel because an object is not blocking light being received by thephototransistor 802.

When the received light intensity at phototransistor 802 is at or abovethe cut-off level, phototransistor 802 is on and conducting electricalcurrent through resistor 806 which reduces the voltage at the base oftransistor 812, causing transistor 812 to shut off, which blockselectrical current through light emitter 804. Thus, light emitter 804does not emit UV light when the light intensity received by sensor 802is at or above a light intensity cut-off level. When the received lightintensity at phototransistor 802 is below the cut-off level,phototransistor 802 is off and not conducting electrical current throughresistor 806, which increases the voltage at the base of transistor 812,causing transistor 812 to turn on and conduct electrical current throughlight emitter 804. Thus, when an object and/or portion of a deviceblocks enough light received by phototransistor 802 to cause it to shutoff, activator circuit 800 turns on light emitter 804 to emit UV lighttoward the object and/or portion of a device. While activator circuit800 includes a phototransistor sensor 802, other types of sensors may beimplemented such as, without limitation, a different photo-reactivedevice (e.g., a photodiode), an acoustic sensor, a sonic sensor, acapacitance sensor, a pressure sensor, a mass sensor, and a magneticsensor.

The activator circuit 800 may or may not include an activation switch816 that is controllable manually or automatically from a controllersuch as controller 410. The controller may open switch 816 to preventactivation of UV light emitter 804 even when phototransistor 802 is in acut-off state to ensure other conditions are met before the UV lightemitter 804 emits UV light. For example, controller 410 may delayactivation of a cell or multiple cells 702 for a period of time toensure an object or device is fully positioned at a sanitizing interface(e.g., 1 sec, 3 seconds, 5 seconds, and so on). Controller 410 may notclose switch 816 until a UV sanitizes operation associated with a morecomplete cleaning and sanitizing operation is ready to be performed.Controller 410 may not close switch 816 until a set number of cells 702detect that a device is in position to be irradiated with UV light.Controller 410 may not close switch 816 unless a proximity sensordetects the presence of the device when positioned above the sanitizinginterface. System 100 and/or 400 may include a safety feature wherecontroller 410 may not close switch 816 or 1016 unless a sensor such asa pressure, weight, and/or mass sensor determines that a sufficientlymassive object is positioned above the array of UV light emitters. Thesensor may measure the amount of pressure, mass, or weight whichcontroller 410 may compare with a threshold value to determine if switch816 or 1016 should be closed to enable activation of UV cells. Forexample, a threshold of 15 lbs may be set such that a weight of at least15 lbs has to be sensed before switch 816 or 1016 is closed. The valuemay be set to prevent activation of UV light emitters when a lessmassive object, such as a child, incidentally steps over or is placedabove the UV light emitters.

FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram of another exemplary activator circuit900 including a sensor 902, UV light emitters 904 and 906, and a superand/or discharge capacitor 908 that is electrically coupled in aparallel with the UV light emitters 904 and 906. Circuit 900 may includebiasing components such as resistors 910, 912, and 918, and transistors914 and 916. The biasing components may be configured to set a thresholdor cut-off level of light intensity and/or sensitivity at whichphototransistor 902, i.e., the sensor, turns off and/or on.

When the received light intensity at phototransistor 902 is at or abovethe cut-off level, phototransistor 902 is on and conducting electricalcurrent through resistors 910 and 918 which reduces the voltage at thebase of transistor 916, causing transistor 916 to shut off, which blockselectrical current through UV light emitters 904 and 906. Thus, lightemitters 904 and 906 do not emit UV light when the light intensityreceived by sensor 902 is at or above a light intensity cut-off level.Also, discharge capacitor 908 is charged to a voltage level just belowVCC. When the received light intensity at phototransistor 902 is belowthe cut-off level, phototransistor 902 is off and not conductingelectrical current through resistors 910 and 918, which increases thevoltage at the base of transistor 916, causing transistor 916 to turn onand conduct electrical current from discharge capacitor 908 throughlight emitters 904 and 906. Thus, when an object and/or portion of adevice blocks enough light received by phototransistor 902 to cause itto shut off, activator circuit 900 turns on light emitters 904 and 906to emit UV light toward the object and/or portion of a device. Whileactivator circuit 900 includes a phototransistor sensor 902, other typesof sensors may be implemented such as, without limitation, a differentphoto-reactive device (e.g., a photodiode), an acoustic sensor, a sonicsensor, a capacitance sensor, a pressure sensor, and a magnetic sensor.While activator circuit 900 includes discharge capacitor 908, in otherimplementations, discharge capacitor 908 may be electrically coupled inparallel with UV light emitters 904 and 906, while being physicallylocated outside of the activator circuit 900 and/or outside of the UVlight emission cell.

FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram of a UV light emission circuit 1000including multiple UV emission interface cells and/or activator circuits1002 and 1004 that are electrically coupled in parallel with one or morecapacitors 1006, 1008, 1010, and 1012. Circuit 1000 may include biasingcomponents such as resistor 1014. Circuit 1000 may include a mastercontrol switch 1016 that is configured to prevent activation of the UVlight emitters associated with activator circuits 1002 and 1004 whenswitch 1016 is open, but allow UV light emitters associated withactivator circuits 1002 and 1004 to be activated and emit UV light whenswitch 1016 is closed. Switch 1016 may function in a similar manner asswitch 816, but enable manual or automatic control of multiple activatorcircuits of multiple cells such as cells 702 of FIG. 19 . Dischargecapacitors 1006, 1008, 1010, and 1012 may be configured to dischargeelectrical current to drive UV light emitters in circuits 1002 and 1004while the circuits are activated. Activator circuits 1002 and 1004 mayinclude circuits 800 and/or 900. FIG. 22 also illustrates how any numberof cells 702 and/or activator circuits can be arranged in parallel incircuit 1000. In this way, for example, switch 1016 can enable orinhibit the activation of all cells 702 until a sanitizer system isready to allow the system to emit UV light toward a device. A denserarray of cells 702 can increase the accumulated current draw to anundesirable level. Hence, circuits 800, 900, and/or 1000 may include atleast one super capacitor which can significantly reduce the amperagedemand while UV light emitters are activated. One of ordinary skillunderstands that various circuits of various configurations may bedesigned to implement activator circuits that achieve the same orsimilar functions as described above.

Elements or steps of different implementations described may be combinedto form other implementations not specifically set forth previously.Elements or steps may be left out of the systems or processes describedpreviously without adversely affecting their operation or the operationof the system in general. Furthermore, various separate elements orsteps may be combined into one or more individual elements or steps toperform the functions described in this specification.

Other implementations not specifically described in this specificationare also within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A UV sanitizing device comprising: a sanitizinginterface including a top surface arranged to support a devicepositioned above the sanitizing interface, the sanitizing interfaceincluding a translucent material arranged to allow UV light to passthrough; and an adjustable UV emission interface, positioned adjacent tothe sanitizing interface, arranged to adjustably conform to the shape ofa surface of the device facing the sanitizing interface, and arranged toemit the UV light toward the sanitizing interface in the shape of thesurface of the device, the adjustable UV emission interface including aplurality of UV emission interface cells such that, when a first portionof the UV emission interface cells is activated and a second portion ofthe UV emission interface cells is deactivated, the UV emissioninterface conforms to the shape of the surface of the device; whereineach cell of the plurality of UV emission interface cells includes asensor arranged to detect a portion of the surface of the device facingthe sanitizing interface.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein each cell ofthe plurality of UV emission interface cells includes at least one UVlight emitter arranged to emit a portion of the UV light toward thedevice and through the sanitizing interface when activated.
 3. Thedevice of claim 2, wherein each cell of the plurality of UV emissioninterface cells is individually controllable by an activator circuit. 4.The device of claim 3, wherein the activator circuit activates the atleast one UV light emitter in response to its respective sensordetermining that the portion of the surface of the device facing thesanitizing interface is aligned with its respective sensor along an axisextending from the respective UV emission interface cell toward theportion of the surface of the device facing the sanitizing interface. 5.The device of claim 4, wherein the sensor includes a photo-reactivedevice.
 6. The device of claim 5, wherein the photo-reactive deviceincludes a phototransistor.
 7. The device of claim 6, wherein thephototransistor determines that the portion of the surface of the devicefacing the sanitizing interface is aligned with the phototransistor bydetecting a change in light intensity received by the phototransistor.8. The device of claim 2, wherein the plurality of UV emission interfacecells are configured as an array of UV light emitters arranged toselectively activate the first portion of the UV emission interfacecells and deactivate the second portion of the UV emission interfacecells to emit the UV light toward the surface of first device.
 9. Thedevice of claim 2, wherein the at least one UV light emitter in each ofthe plurality of the UV emission interface cells includes an LEDemitter.
 10. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes at leastone of a photo-reactive device, an acoustic sensor, a sonic sensor, acapacitance sensor, a pressure sensor, and a magnetic sensor.